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Oblate Lay Congress Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Approval of Oblate Constitutions & Rules August 10th, 2026
The gathering was held at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois
(Contributed by Br. Lester Antonio Zapata OMI)
After some months of planning, this past weekend (July 31 to August 2, 2026), a 3-day National Gathering of Oblate Laity took place at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL. The last meeting of Oblate Laity for the USA Province was held about 10 years ago. The event marked the 200th anniversary of the Oblate Constitutions and Rules, approved by Pope Leo XII in 1826.
About 40 lay Oblate associates came from California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New York. They had the opportunity to participate in the 83rd annual Novena to Our Lady of the Snows. Among the attendees was U.S. Provincial Fr. Raymond Cook, OMI, who inaugurated the Congress. Other Oblates who attended were Fr. David Uribe, OMI, Fr. Juan Gaspar OMI, Br. Lester Antonio Zapata and Br. Elisha Chisanga, OMI, also there was Honorary Oblate Mary O’Herron, former OMI JPIC staff.
During our time together, we embraced Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to pray for peace in our world. Each day, we joined our voices with his by praying the Prayer for Peace he led during the Vigil for Peace at Saint Peter’s Basilica on April 11, 2026. “Lord Jesus, you conquered death without weapons or violence: you shattered its power with the strength of peace. Grant us your peace …May the madness of war cease, and the Earth be cared for and cultivated by those who still know how to bring forth, protect and love life.”
Fr. Ray Cook, OMI, inaugurated the gathering and told attendees that each of them has an important call to live out our charisma. Some Oblate associates came from places where the Oblates are no longer staffing any parish or ministry, but they are the ones keeping the charism alive. He explained that the absence of an Oblate priest does not mean the absence of the Oblate charism. He also explained that charism was given by the Holy Spirit to the whole Church. It was never exclusively given to the ordained or vowed Oblate. We are also called to protect and share the charism left to us by St. Eugene de Mazenod.
Fr. Juan Gaspar spoke about the process of forming Oblates to embrace and live the Oblate way of life. Fr. David Uribe, OMI shared on Constitution 8: being close to the people, taking into account their values and aspirations, preaching the Word of God in a simple yet efficient way to reach their hearts, helping them realize their human dignity and daring them to live the gospel.
